legalization

When most people consider retirement, historically climate was one the top concerns – particularly sunshine. In the past, retirees looked to Florida or Arizona as optimum states to spend their later years. It seems that the times are changing, and retirees are thinking less about sunshine and more about marijuana. Many retirees are considering marijuana laws when they choose their next move, Reuters reports.

At the University of California, Los Angeles a professor of public policy, Michael Stoll, says “There is anecdotal evidence that people with health conditions which medical marijuana could help treat, are relocating to states with legalized marijuana.” Stoll, who studies retiree migration trends, points to the United Van Lines 38th Annual National Movers Study as evidence.

The study showed that Oregon was the top moving destination in 2014, according to the article. In November, Oregon voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use, and the law went into effect on July 1, 2015. Oregon isn’t the only state where marijuana is legal that retirees are moving to, Colorado had the highest percentage of people moving there to retire.

“In Colorado, since legalization, many dispensaries have seen the largest portion of sales going to baby boomers and people of retirement age,” said Taylor West, deputy director of the Denver-based National Cannabis Industry Association.

While there many different opinions floating around regarding the medical benefits of the drug, or lack thereof, many seniors claim that the drug helps.

“A lot of the things marijuana is best at are conditions which become more of an issue as you get older,” said West. “Chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia, loss of appetite: All of those things are widespread among seniors.”

Whether retirees are searching for pain relief or nostalgia, it is important to keep in mind that the drug holds the potential for abuse.
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